Heading into UFC Fight Night 26, Brown was an honorable mention and Pyle was ranked No. 12 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com MMA welterweight rankings. In the UFC’s official rankings, neither fighter was in the top 10.

However, UFC President Dana White suggested that if people want to see that changed and believe Brown deserves to fight the division’s elite, it’s up to the media members who vote in the UFC rankings to make it so.

“Put him on the radar,” White said. “You guys are going to be the ones voting tomorrow and on Monday. Put him on the radar. Don’t throw that at me.”

Brown previously trained with Pyle. And though talking up the veteran only strengthens the perceived value of the victory, the matter-of-fact Brown isn’t one to embellish things. So when he said he expected a much tougher fight than the one he got (watch the Matt Brown vs. Mike Pyle video highlights), you’re likely to believe him.

“Mike Pyle beat me up in training,” Brown said of their previous training sessions. “The guy in the gym is one of the best guys in the world. That’s how it is, man.

“Mike Pyle really is one of the best fighters in the world. He just doesn’t always put it together in the ring. I just came in to whoop his ass. I knew it was going to be me or him.”

While his dream fight with St-Pierre isn’t likely to happen soon, Brown does hope he continues to get big-name opponents as he surges up the division.

“Hopefully it put me somewhere in a good position to get some big fights,” he said. “I know in this sport you get what you earn, not what you deserve. Hopefully I earned something good here.”

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